Esek Hopkins 1718-1802 First Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Navy and commander of Rhode Island's military forces, started his career as a captain and privateer, and later undertook an expedition to attack British vessels off Virginia and the Carolinas. Rare D.S., 1p. 12mo., Rhode Island, Feb. 19, 1781, a pay order issued by the Rhode Island General Assembly ordering that ...Two Thousand Pounds in Current Cont[inental] Money to be paid to Henry Marchant, Esqr...... On the verso, Marchant signs with Hopkins docketing the document Aud Feb: 19,1781 E. Hopkins Fine.